Lions Hill

Ownership: ARC

Designation: SSSI, SAC, SPA, Ramsar

Restrictions:Open Access Land, please keep dogs on a lead

Access: Lions Hill Way

Grid ref: SU 10639 03947

The Reserve

Lions Hill is located in the east of Dorset and it’s 42 hectares of heath are separated into three distinct blocks each with their own varying habitats. The southern block is the largest of the three with equal amounts of dry and wet heath. Sand lizards were successfully introduced into this area in 1998 and have spread across the reserve. The southern block is also extremely good for silver studded blue butterflies. The central block is split from the southern by Lions Hill Way; the habitat of this area is mainly dry heath with coniferous woodland on the western edge of the reserve, the wood from which the site takes it’s name. The northern block is separated from the central by the Public Right of Way, the Castleman Trailway with the area formed mainly of wet heath and acid bog. The site as a whole holds all six native species of reptile. Other notable species of interest include a healthy population of Dartford warblers, and wood crickets (Nemobius sylvestris) are abundant across the reserve.

A Little History

Lions Hill was purchased in 1998 by Amphibian and Reptile Conservation with the aid of a National Lottery grant. Lions Hill enclosure is ring-work bank and ditch surmounting Lions Hill. Its origin is quite obscure with theories for its use ranging from an animal stockade to the banks being firebreaks to protect the lodge pole pines growing within, which would have been grown as sailing ship masts. Lions Hill wood itself was used as a decoy during World War II (further details to follow).

Nestled within the Thames Basin Heaths SPA, Chatley Heath is an internationally important area for birds, and provides a haven for our native reptiles, which can also now expand into the newly restored adjacent heathland at Ockham Common.

Part of a landscape network of connected sites managed by organisations including Waverley Council and the National Trust this site supports all six native reptile species after successful reintroductions of sand lizards and smooth snakes.